THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 

LOS  ANGELES 


HEART'S   OWN 


VERSES 


BY 


EDWIN    R.    CHAMPLIN 


CHICAGO 
CHARLES  H.  KERR  &  COMPANY 

1886 


Copyright,    1886, 

PY  EDWIN  II.  (,'IIAMPLIX. 

All  Riglils  Reserved. 


CONTENTS. 


PAGE 


Prefatory  Note ix 

Memories         .         •         •         -         •         •         H 
A  Lover's  Mood         .         .         .         .  12 

A  Lost  Boy          ....  U 

Defense     .         .         .         •         .         .         .16 

Dying  at  Eighty 15 

On  a  Friend's  Return         .         .         .         .18 

Inheritance     ......         19 

Love's  Faithfulness     .         .         .         .         .2!) 

Loss  and  Salvation         .         .         .          .         21 

When  Need  is  Greatest     .         .         .         .21 

A  Faded  Flower     .         .         .         .  22 

Barriers     .         .         .         .         .         .         .24 

Reunion         ......  25 

A  Prayer 2fi 

An  Old  Story 27 

The  Things  a  Little  Child  Can  Do         .         .28 
Silent  Trust     ...  29 

A  Rhyme  of  Duty         .         .         .         .  30 

A  Day       .......     SI 

The  Lost  Messenger  «  31 

Love's  Death 32 

A  Song  of  God's  Comfort      .         .         .          :?.'? 
To  D.  G.  R.  34 


iv  Heart's  Own. 

A  Victor's  Message         ....        35 

The  Wanderer 35 

A  Wanderer's  Prayer     ....         36 

Attitude 36 

To  a  Fellow-worker        ....         37 

The  Eecall 38 

Transgression  .....  39 
Vanished  Lights  .  .  .  .  .40 
To  a  Rose's  Remains  ....  41 

In  May 42 

Criteria  ......         43 

Waiting  for  Love       .         .         .         .         .44 

After  the  Vanishing       ....         45 

On  a  Glimpse  (from  my  Window  in  May)     .    46 
A  Prisoner         ......     47 

In  the  Hollow  of  Thy  Hand         .         .  48 

The  Gift  of  Years 48 

Remembered  .  •  .  .  .  .49 
If  Thou  Shuttest  Thine  Ear  .  .  50 

A  Motto 50 

Confidence       ......         61 

Growth 52 

Wordsworth  .          .         ...         53 

Hearing      .......     54 

Shelter 55 

A  Thought  after  a  Petition       ...      56 
Praise     .......         56 

Provision     .  •         .         .         .         •  57 


Contents.  v 

The  Wakened  Heart         .         .         .         .       59 

Two  Growths 60 

The  King's  Daughter         .         .         .         .60 

Grant ..61 

A  Word  to  O.  W.  II 62 

Living  Waters         ....'.         63 
Influence     .         .         .         .         .         .         .64 

Mary        .  65 

Hope 66 

On  Seeing  a  Boy  Playing  Clappers         .       66 
Christmas  Morning      .         .         .         .         .67 

.Man's  Part 68 

The  Discovery 69 


Out  of  my  heart  I  send  you.  forth,  0  tender- 
thoughted  crew, 

And  may  you  find  a  resting-place  in  hearts 
I  never  knew. 


NOTE. 

MOST  of  the  pieces  in  this  book  have  not 
been  published ;  those  which  have  been  will 
doubtless  be  readily  recognized  by  most 
readers.  My  aim  in  bringing  these  together 
has  been  to  present  a  representative  collec 
tion  of  my  later  verse.  The  fact  that  the 
collection  contains  some  pieces  of  very  little 
consequence  should  be  considered  in  the 
light  of  this  reflection.  I  thank  all  who 
have  aided  me  in  bringing  out  the  volume, 
including  the  J.  B.  Lippincott  Company, 
who  kindly  granted  the  use  of  "  A  Lover's 
Mood,"  on  which  they  own  the  copyright. 


MEMORIES. 

0  MUSIC  I've  heard,  I  hear  you  still, — 
I  shall  hear  you  again, — 

I  shall  hear  you  forever  in  heaven  ! 

O  sweet  I  have  breath'd,  I  breathe  you  now, — 
I  shall  breathe  you  till  death, — 

I  shall  hold  all  your  fragrance  forever  ! 

O  skies  I  have  seen,  I  see  you  yet, — 
I  shall  see  you  again, — 

I  shall  see  you  when  new  sight  is  given ! 

O  thoughts  that  were  dear.  I  have  you  still, — 
I  shall  have  you  again, — 

For  your  music,  your  breath,  and  your 
skies  depart  never ! 


12  Heart's   Oicn. 


A  LOVER'S  MOOD. 

O  LIPS,  be  still,  and  let  the  heart  make  speech: 
Her  lightest  thought  is  far  beyond  your  reach. 
And,  worldly  wisdom,  unto  faith  give  sway: 
Your  brightest  light  but  darkens  this  dim  day. 

A  place  to  rest  in,  tender  sense  of  love, 
The  heart  that  seeks  still  finds, — whate'er  ye 

prove, 
Lip-speech,  earth-lore,  that  men  account  so 

wise, — 
Still  in  the  dark  hears  lovers'  sweet  replies, 

All  heedless  of  the  distance  that  divides, 
Since  in  all  space  the  lover's  soul  abides, 
And  knows  and  trusts  the  heart  against  its 

own, 
As  heart  by  tongue  to  heart  is  ne'er  made 

known. 

Sing,  then,  thy  song,  0  heart  whose  beat  I 

hear: 
She  is  not  far  when  thought  of  her  is  near, 


A  Lost  Boy.  13 

And  she  must  hear  thy  singing  over  all 
That  world-lore  saith  or  foolish  lips  let  fall. 


A  LOST  BOY. 

WHERE  is  the  boy  I  used  to  know — 
My  oldest  comrade,  nearest  kin — 
In  the  bright  lost  land  of  Long  Ago, 
Where  all  boys  longed,  with  me,  to  grow 
To  height  of  men,  and  the  gold  to  win 
That  we  count  dross  in  the  land  I'm  in  ? 

A  thousand  times  I've  wished  I  knew, 
Thinking   back  with  sore,  sad   heart, 

Where  that  dear  comrade  wandered  to. 
He  did'nt  die ;  what  did  he  do, 

(  I  ask),   when  he  and   I  did  part. 
And  I  came  on  to  this  land  of  art? 

I  never  knew  (it  seems  most  strange) 
The  time  we  parted, — what  we  said; 

Only  know  there's  a  wondrous  change, 
And  often  wonder  where  he  did  range, 


14  Heart's   Own. 

And  question    oft  if  he   be  dead; — 
For   I  haven't  seen    him    since  I   fled 

The  land  where  we  were  one,  and  went 
Through  the  common  fields  with  hearts  of 

joy, 

Nor  dreamed  of  parting,  or  discontent 

In  the  long,  long  days  I  here  have  spent, 
When  I  should  question  for  him — lost  boy. 

0  child !  have  you  found  all  gold  alloy  ? 

I  see  him   yet  in  that  far-off  land, 
And   he   and  I  in  that  land  are  one! 

If  he  never  returns,  I  shall  see  him  stand 
With  his  fresh  bright  eye  and  his  fair  soft 
hand, 

In  the  long,  long  past;  and  when  that  is  gone, 

1  may  see  him  where  all  unto   each  are 

known ! 


Dying  at  Eighty.  15 


DEFENSE. 

WHEN  shadows  of  base  thoughts  upon  me 
steal, 

My  soul  her  silvery-gleaming  shield  uprears, 

And  every  shade  darts  back  to  where  'twas 
born. 

In  that  dark  world  whence  all  death's  shad 
ows  come. 

Love  is  that  shield,  and  heaven,  whence  it 
came, 

Doth  reenfbrce  it  with  its  own  pure  light. 

So  shall  it  brighten  in  the  years  to  be, 

No  shade  of  sin  shall  dare  my  soul  assail. 


DYING   AT  EIGHTY. 

JULY  14,  1886. 

WHERE   art   thou  now,  0    Friend 
So   near  thy  journey's   end? 
Hear'st.thou  through  dream  the  song 
Thine   ears   have  waited  long? 


16  Heart's   Own. 

Seest   thou  Christ's  face  and  theirs 
Who've  climbed   the   heavenly  stairs  ? 
Feel'st  thou  new  life   and  power, 
Perpetual  youth  thy  dower? 

• 

Or  art  thou  dead  to   all 
Sweet  sounds   from  heaven  let  fall? 
And  seest  no  face  or  form, 
Nor  feel'st  or  cold  or  warm, 
Dead  as  men  seem   to  those 
Who  watch  their   last   repose? 

Once  thou  wert  strong  and   glad; 
Once  thou   didst  hear   and   see, 
And  feel   life's   good   and   glee, 
And   none  for   thee  were  sad, 
For  all  were  glad  with  thee. 

Some   went  the   same   strange  way 
Thou  goest ;   none  came  back 
To  tell  us  if  their   track 
Lay,  through   the   night  or   day, — 

If  silence   as   in   sleep 

Held  them  fast-bound   awhile, 


Dying  at  Eighty.  17 

And  then  they  woke  to  smile 
With  those  who  used  to  weep, 
.N ow  free  from  pain  and  guile ; —  ' 

Or  if  they  went  to   heaven, 

And,  "conscious   of  new   rest, 

In   end   of  all  their  quest, 

Found   that  for  which  they'd  striven: 

Life  of  and  with   the    blest ; 

Or  if  they  went  to  dust, 
Voiceless  and  sightless,  reft 
Of  all  man's  glory,  left 
In  old  Death's  hold  and  trust, 
Of  Life's  dear  body  cleft. 

And  now,  while  thou  go'st  out 
As   they  went,  where  the  shout 
Of  comrades  we  ne'er  hear, 
And   only  dream  them  near, — 
We  wonder   how  and   where 
Thou   farest — here  or    there. 
Yet,  though  we  knew   thee   well, 
We  shall   not  hear  thee   tell. 

Where  thou  art  now,  kind  heart. 


18  Heart's  Oicit. 

None  knoweth  but  in  part ; 
But  on  what  journey  gone, 
Well  knoweth  every  one. 
Hear  thou  at  length  the  song 
Thine  ears   have  waited  long! 
See  thou   Christ's  face   and  thTeirs 
Who've  climbed  the  heavenly   stairs ! 
Feel  thou  new  life  and  power, 
Perpetual  youth  thy   dower ! 


ON  A  FRIEND'S  KETURN. 

O  FACE  that  dims  all  dreams ! 
Time  stops  to  give  thee  placo ! 

Rare  lily  of  life's  streams, — 
Still  lives  the  olden  grace  ; 

Still,  in  thy  mouth's  bright  gleams, 
Still,  in  thine  eyes  I  trace 
Such  love  as  neither  space 
Nor  time  can  e'er  efface. 

Robed  in  thine  olden  guise, 
Lookest  thou  on  me  here  ; 


Inheritance.  19 

Unchanged  in  any  wise, 

Dead  to  each  vanished  year, 

'Live  to  all  lover's  ties. 

Friends  fade  and  disappear  ; 
Still  may  I  hold  thee  dear, 
Faithful  though  far  or  near  ! 


INHERITANCE. 

THE  space  of  the  greatest  of  earth 
Doth  shrink  to  a  little  dark  dwelling 

Not  they  but  a  greater  doth  keep, 
In  spite  of  their  stoutest  rebelling. 

When  I  saw  them  lie  down  at  Death's  call, 
Poor  tenants  that  late  were  proud  keepers, 

And  heard  the  vast  multitudes  moan 

At  the  change    that  had  come   to   the 
sleepers, 

I  thought  of  the  word  of  the  Lord, 

And  I  longed  that  the  living  might  fear  it: 

•"  The  meek  are  the  blest,"  saith  the  word, 
"  For  they  shall  the  kingdoms  inherit." 


20  Heart's   Own. 


LOVE'S   FAITHFULNESS. 

LOVE  hid  himself  from  me  so  many  daysr 
I  felt  myself  abandoned ;  sick  at  heart 
That  one  I  counted  true  should  leave  me  SOT 
I  thinned,  and  fevered,  and  complained,  and 

wept; 
My  world  became  a  dark,  wild-rolling  cloud, 

presaging  storm  ; 

When,  lo !  one  day  dear  Jen  came  up  to  me, 
And  turning  her  bright  eyes  full  up  to  mine, 
And  touching  her  sweet  lips  against  my 

own, —  * 

Mine,  parched  with  Love's    long  absence,. 

fain  to  turn 

Back  into  mold, — gave  me  a  clasp 
Of  those  rich  lips,  oft-kissed  in  dear  Love's 

day,  [youth. 

That  brought  Love  back  in  all  the  bloom  of 
He  had  not  died ;  nor  fled  so  far  away 
But  that  one  icord  might  bring  him  back 

to  me, —  [  days, 

But  one  long  kiss,  like  those  in  Love's  first 
Might  bring  him  in  the  beauty  of  his  youth  1 


When  Need  is  Greatest.  21 


LOSS  AND  SALVATION. 

WHEN  the  ship  went  down  in  the  sea, 
One  soul  drank  the  sea  to  his  death, 
Because  there  was  none  underneath 

To  hold  him  up  where  Life  was  free, 
And  the  sea  could  not  rob  him  of  breath. 

And  musing  on  his  destiny, 

I  thought,  Never  one  of  Christ's  crew 

That  are  beating  up  Life's  troubled  sea, 

But  the  Lord  will  bring  with  him,  saith  he. 
When  the  heavenward  journey  is  through. 


WHEN  NEED  IS  GREATEST. 

WHEN  need  is  greatest, 
Heaven   is   nearest. 

0  Thou   that  to   the  soul   appearest, 
And  its  thirst  satest 

From  thy  full  fount, 
To  thee  at  earliest  beam  and  latest 

1  mount — I  mount! 


22  Heart's   Own. 


A  FADED  FLOWER. 

IF  in  my  heart  the  love 
I  once  confessed  to  you, 
And  fancied  deep  and  true, 
Should  blossom  out  anew, 

And  I  its  worth  should  prove, 

Would   I  confess  again? 
Ah !  Love  in  youth  is  blind  ; 
Bereft  of  half  its  mind: 
It  dreams  it  loves,  to  find 

At  length  dream-love  is  vain. 

Some  color  won  its  eye, 
Some  turn  of  head  or  foot  : 
A  smile,  or  signal  mute 
Of  fondness  ;  or  pursuit 

Congenial ;  or  some  sly 

Sweet  token  wrong-construed. 
Love  fancies  easily ; 
And  ere  a  week  goes  by 
'Twill  for  its  object  die; — 

Said  I  not  that  /  would  ? 


.1   Faded  Flow.  23 

I  thought  I  loved  thec  true ; 
I  would  have  died  for  thee. 
To-day  where  thou  mayst  be 
I  do  not  know:    how  free 

I  feel !   I  love — not  you ! 

The  love  that  in  an  hour 
Within  me  blossomed  so 
Is  dead ;  how  it  did  glow, 
And  set  its  leaves  for  show ! 

'Twas  but  a  passion-flower ! 

'Tis  dead ;  and  not  again 
Shall  I  its  bloom  behold ; 
Dead,  and  gone  into  mold  ; 
Like  fancies  manifold, 

That,  dying,  gave  no  pain. 

And  should  it  bloom  anew, 
It  would  so  fragile  seem, 
Like  as  a  bloom  of  dream, 
And  not  of  Love's  pure  stream, 

I'd  say  no  word  to  you  ! 


24  Heart's   Own. 


BARRIERS. 

IP  fear  of  death  would  die, 
And  love  of  truth  increase, 

Far-off  desire  come  nigh, 
Distrust  and  anger  cease, 

How  would  the  soul  upmount 
As  on  an  eagle's  wings, 

Drink  from  a  heavenly  fount, 
And  sing  as  seraph  sings! 

But  while  we  droop  with  fear, 
And  tremble  with  distrust, 

Desire  comes  never  near, 
Against  our  loves  we  lust ; 

We  cannot  lift  our  souls 
Beyond   these  self-built  bars  : 

And  ours  are  earthly  goals, 

Who  thought  to  reach  the  stars  ! 


Reunion.  25 


HEUNION. 

IP  all  are  "  here,"  it  little  matters  : 

Who  fought  and  died  have  found  it  well : 

The  grave  nor  censures  nor  yet  flatters ; — 
And  here  is  heaven,  and  here  is  hell. 

Who  fought  and  live  have  grown  the  wiser ;, 
They  love  so  well  their  friends  and  foes, 

They  feel  alike  to  giver,  miser, 

The  sense  of  debt  that  each  man  owes. 

Who  live  or  sleep,  if  all  forgiven, 

If  here  or  there,  have  had  life's  best : 

To  meet  on  earth,  or  e'en  in  heaven, 
Would  not  be  joy,  would  not  be  rest. 

It'  all  are  "here,"  it  little  matters: 

Who  fought  and  died  have  found  their 
own; 

Nor  can  Death  deal,  as  shot  that  scatters, 
A  blow  that  leaves  a  brave  alone  ! 


Hi-art's   On- it. 


A.  PRAYER. 

O  LOVE  that  hast  no  equal,  make  me  meek  ! 

That  with  new  eyes  thine  image  I  may  see, 

And  know  how  far  thy  kindness  unto  me 
Exceeds  the    love  of  them  that   their  love 

speak ! 
Help  me  to  grow  in  strength,  who  am  so  weak, 

By  service  great  or  small,  as  pleaseth  thee. 

I  care  not,  now,  to  stand  with   royalty, 
But  where  I  am,  thy  pleasure  would  I  seek. 

Now  to  go  forward,  and  look  not  behind ; 
Now  to  reach  out  and  lead  the  wanderer 

back ; 
Now  more  to  heed  the  light  on  mine  own 

track, 

J^cr  spy  for  sins  whereto  I  should  be  blind, 
Would  I,  0  God  :  but  I  in  vain  must  seek 
This  way  or  that   till  ihou  hast  made  me 
meek. 


An   Old  Story. 


AN  OLD  STORY. 

"  GOOD-BY,  dear,"  I  heard  him  say 
Just  before  he  went  away : 
Words  that,  said  some  earlier  year, 
With  a  lover's  youthful  cheer, 
Would  have  sounded,  oh,  how  sweet ! 
But  to-day,  though  they  repeat 
Sense  of  love  as  deep  as  then, 
iSeem  like  words  of  other  men 
On  his  partner's  ear  to  fall — 
Empty  ceremonial  ! 

And  I  said,  with  sinking  heart, 

So  our  early  dreams  depart ! 

Who  to  hearts  can  e'er  restore 

That  which,  fled,  returns  no  more  ? 

Who  can  resurrect  a  trust 

That  is  buried  in  the  dust  ? 

Who,  when  Pride  usurps  the  place 

That  was  meant  for  Love  to  grace, 

Can  receive  with  olden  cheer 

From  her  mate,  "  Good-by,  my  dear"? 


28  Heart's  Own. 


THE  THINGS  A  LITTLE  CHILD 
CAN  DO. 

THE  things  a  little  child  can  do 
Are  never  great  and  always  few  ; 
But  those  that  men  grown  great  pursue 
(Remember  when  your  life  looks  blue) 
Are  those  to  whose  pursuit  they  grew 

From  doing  smallest  duties; 
And  this  is  what  I'd  say  to  you 

I  love  so  well,  my  beauties : 

The  faithful  doer  of  little  things — 
Though  it  be  but  winding  broken  strings- 
Shall  one  day  sit  by  side  of  kings 
(Not  kings  with  crowns  and  diamond  rings- 
Kings  of  soul);  for  the  mighty  springs 

From  the  weak,  and  true  pursuing 
Of  the  little  work  the  present  brings 

Will  fit  you  for  kingly  doing. 


Silent   Trust.  29 


SILENT  TllUST. 

IN  this  loud  strife,  where  tongues  and  swords 

prevail, 

I,  who  would  surely  win  the  victory, 
Need  not  to  fear  the  foes  that  me  asail, 
For,  though  I  seek  my  armor  silently, 
My  God  doth  fight  with  me. 

In    that  still  hour  when,  life's  worst  foes 

o'ercome, 

I  seek  the  rest  that  follows  victory ; 
I  shall  not  fail  to  find  my  welcome  home, 
Although  as  silent,  then,  my  lips  may  be — 
My  God  will  watch  for  me  ! 

He  who,  in  strife,  or  in  the  peace  of  death, 
Knows  who  is  his,  and  who  his  enemy, 

Looks  at  the  heart,  and  never  at  the  breath  ; 
And,  though  I  pray,  or  though  I  silent  be. 
Fights,  leads,  and  rests  with  me  ! 


30  Heart's  Oini. 


A  RHYME  OF  DUTY. 

THERE  was  never  loss  so  great 

As  of  sense  of  debt  to  all. 

Let  the  suffering  selfist  call, — 
Lacking  thee,  meet  whatso  fate ; 

Evil  only  can  befall 

By  neglect  of  due  to  all. 

Singly  every  man  must  die, 
Singly  live,  and  singly  strive  ; 
But  to  all  that  are  alive, 

Not  to  friend  or  enemy, 

Must  he  of  his  treasure  give, — 
Help  the  world,  not  one,  to  thrive. 

So,  alone,  is  self  preserved, — 
Not  by  toilsome  penury : 
Giving  out  will  bring  to  thee 

All  thy  loving  gifts  deserved, 
Build  thee  up  in  charity, 
Help  all  men  along  with  thee. 


The  Lost  Messenger.  31 


A  DAY. 

IT  came  in  blackness  shrouded, 
And  all  my  spirit  clouded  ; 
And,  till  its  dreaded  form  went, 
It  filled  my  soul  with  torment ! 

But  when  it  had -departed, — - 
Such  glory  it  imparted  ; 
Such  glimpses  it  revealed 
Of  what  it  had  concealed 

Beneath  its  grim  apparel — 
I  saw  that  I  might  bear  well 
All  pain  of  soul  and  spirit 
Its  beauty  to  inherit ! 


THE  LOST  MESSENGER 

WHERE  he  fell,  none  know — none  care;- 
He  was  bearing  the  banner  of  love : 

And  to  know  that  he  bore  lover's  share 
Is  enough — till  we  meet  him  above  ! 


32  Heart's   Own. 


LOVE'S  DEATH. 

Bow  thy  head ; 
Let  naught  be  said ; 
Not  man  is  dead, 
But  Love. 

When  tears  are  shed, 
Some  heart  has  bled 
For  one  who's  fled 
Above ; 

Its  hope  is  sped  : 

Uncomforted, 

It  mourns   as   dead 

Its   Love. 

But  when  Love's  dead- 
0    woful  stead ! — 
Hearts  silent  tread 
Life's  groove ; 

For   no  tear  shed, 
And   no   word   said, 


A  Song  of  God's  Comfoit.          33 

One  more   than  dead 
Can   prove. 

Bow   thy  head ; 
Let   naught   be  said ; 
Not  man   is   dead 
But    Love. 


A  SONG  OF  GOD'S  COMFORT. 

WHEN  thought  of  loss  brings  tears, 

And  sorrows  grow  more  sore, 
In  vision  rare  appears 

The  Lord  that  I  adore  : 
His  wordless  peace  is  nearest, 
My  thought  of  Him  is  dearest, 
When  earthly  lot  is  drearest, 
And  fled  the  dreams  of  yore. 

And  if  thy  youth's  hopes  fade, 
Thy  manhood's  vigor  wane, 

Love  flee,  and  trust's  betrayed, 
And  life  yield  'neath  the  strain; 


34  Heart's  Own. 

Still,  when  thy  case  is  sorest, 
The  Lord  whom  thou  adorest, 
O  soul  that  vain  implorest 
Man's  aid,  will  thee  sustain. 


TO  D.  G.  R. 

ROSSETTI  !  I,  who  know  thee  not,  but  may 
Some  day  when  I  can  trace  to  thine  abode, 
Would  tell  thee  how  like  water  when  the 

road 

Is  parched  that  I  have  followed  all  the  day, — 
No  brook  in  sight  that  might  my    thirst 

allay, — 
Is  that  sweet  stream  that  from  thy  spirit 

flowed. 
Ah !  many  a  freshened  soul  to  thee  has 

owed 

The  slake  of  thirst  that  kept  him  on  his  way, 

And  visions  of  the  heavenly  home  of  Love 

That  in  thy  liquid   draughts  so   bright 

appear. 
Thy  "  Damozel"  still  leaneth  from  above  ; 


The    Wanderer.  35 

Thy  ':  Lost  Days"  are  our  own  :  thy  soul 

is  near. 
The  chaste,    new  beauty  of  thy  verse 

hath  grace 
To  make  us  long  some  day  to  see  thy 

face. 


A  VICTOR'S   MESSAGE. 

0    LIVING  men  and  dying ! 

The   way  to  conquer   death 
Is   not  by   weak  defying, 
Nor  cowardly    complying, 

But  by  a  joyful   breath, 
•With   all  life's  colors  flying'! 


THE  WANDERER. 

I  AM  not  hard  to  please,  although  I  dis 
contented  be; 

A  little  loving  company  were  all  the  world 
to  me ! 


36  Heart's   Own. 


A  WANDERER'S  PRAYER, 

WHAT  can  I  do  without  Thee  ? 
What,  but  deny  and  doubt  Thee  ? 
0  Master  !  guide  me  to  thy  feet ; 
And  make  my  life  with  Thine  comDlete. 

Teach  me  Thine  own  humility  ! 
Mine  eyes  are  blurred  ;  I  cannot  see 
How  like  the  world  my  soul  has  grown 
Since  I  have  been  these  years  alone. 

Give  sight,  as  in  Thine  earthly  days-; 
Thou  gav'st  it  to  the  outer  phase, 
And  make  me,  seeing  self  anew, 
To  Thee  return,  to  Thee  be  true. 


ATTITUDE. 

Teach  the  teachers ;  but  with  humility 
Give  heed  to  all ; — the  least  can  still  teach 
thee  I 


To  a  Fellow-Worker.  37 


TO  A  FELLOW-WORKER. 

Spread  not   thyself;  but  know  the  second's 

grace, 
The  moment's  beauty — aye,  the  moment's 

power  : 
The   crown    of  all    perfection's   in    some 

hour, — 

And  all  the  minutes  in  the  century's  space 
Some  great  work  grew  in,  hold  fore'er  their 

place  : — 
If  their  part  fell,  fall'n  were  the  glorious 

tower ! 
Xor  count  thy  gift  as  small  beside  another's 

dower  : 
None  ever  wrought  to  purpose  in  disgrace 

With  his  own  eyes;  but  men  most  small, 
To  the  world's  sight,  have  wrought,  in  modest 

thought, 

So  nobly  that  at  length  the  tongues  of  all 
Have  praised  them  with  a  praise  they  never 

sought. 

All's   thine,  0  Soul !    time's   long ; — each 
moment  full  ; 


38  Heart $   Oicn. 

Work  with  thy  might,  and  leave  no  spaces 
dull! 


THE  RECALL. 

COME  back  to  me  ! 

Oh  let  me  feel  thy  heart 
Close-pressed    to  mine    as    in  the  days  of 

wooing  ! 
Stand  here  by  me, 

And  know  thyself  a  part 
Of  all  the  life  I  live,  and  all  that  I'm  pursuing. 


All  I  have  lost, 

0  Love,  since  thou  wert  near, 
Then  will  return,  and  thou  be  more  than  ever ! 
Love  that's  been  crossed 

May  yet  have  title  clear 
To  lasting  life,  and  thou  and  I  ne'er  sever  ! 


Transgression.  30 


TRANSGRESSION. 

WHAT  wisdom  hath  he  gained  who  knows 

the  bound, 
And  pays  it  faithful   heed,    where  glee 

should  end, 
Allegiance   terminate    twixt    friend   and 

friend, 
Or   toil-strife   cease, — to   leave   the     spirit 

sound  ! 
Through   every  hour  do    sorrow's    inoans 

resound, 

Repentance  and  resolve  their  voices  blend, 
Because  herein  the  sons  of  men  offend  ; 
And  hearts  are  hourly  cursed  that  else  were 

crown'd, 

Because  to  play,  or  fancied  love,  or  need, 
They  gave  their  souls,  nor  thought  of  aught 

beside 

Till  roused  at  last  to  find  their  only  meed 
Sea-apples  dead, — and  loss  of  soul  abide. 

So  easy  is  it  to  transgress  the  lifie 

Of  righteousness,  when  few  indeed  declibe ! 


40  Heart's  Own. 


VANISHED  LIGHTS. 

THEY  who've  gone  out,  that  once  did  shine 

on  me, 
And  in  whose  sight  I  gloried  more  tnan 

sun, 

Cannot  their  shining  have  forever  done, 
Nor  I  have  ceased  fore'er  their  light  to  see. 
Somewhere,   when  I,   like  them,  no  more 

shall  be 

To  any  outward  sense  of  any  one 
That  still  lives  on,  shall  I  not  in  their  sun 
My  spirit  bathe,that  mourns  them  ceaselessly? 

The  love  of  life,  for  life's  own  sake,  is  strong; 
The  love  of  truth  and  God  grows  day  by 

day  : 

But,  loving  life,  and  truth,  and  God,  I  long 

(Whatever  new  stars  greet  me  on  my  way) 

For  the  old  lights  that  left  me  in  the  dark, 

With  but  this  hope  their  trackless  way  to 

mark. 


To  a  Rose's  Remains.  41 


TO  A  ROSE'S  REMAINS. 

O  SWEET  wild  rose, 
Thy  seeming  death 

Is  an  immortal  memory ; — 
Thy  life  outgoes 
To  meet  the  breath 

Of  souls  that  in  all  life  to  be 
Shall  see  thee  from  thy  thorn-bush 

free, 

Where  blossom  never  withereth, 
But  beauty  blows, — 
No  thorn  beneath, — 

In  endless  fields  eternally, 
A.nd  music  flows 

With  fragrant  breath 

In  spirit  seas  of  harmony. 

Mourn    not   that   thou  thy  shape  must 

lose, — 

We,  too,  must  lay  our  vesture  by ; — 
Nor  grieve  if  in  thy  dwelling  high 
Thou   find'st  no   rose — there    all   sweets 
fuse — 


42  Heart's   Own. 

No  beauty  for  an  earthly  eye  ; 
Thou  shalt  be  safe  from  storm  and  bruise, 
And  share  our  immortality ! 

IN  MAY. 

WHO  cannot  be  content  in  crowds  of  men 
Should  take  him,  in  the  May-days,   to  the 

fields, 
And,  where  the  wall  shuts  out  the  rasping 

wind, 

Lie  in  the  sun,  and  watch  the  rising  earth. 
There  is  a  sense  of  kinship  in  the  soul 
With  every  stone  and  every  solid  thing  ; 
And,  sheltered  by  a  wall  in  sunlight  lying, 
List'ning  to  far-off  birds,  that  dart  o'er  fields 
New-cut  by  plows,  on  to  their  leafy  homes, 
And  watching  mellowing  sod  and  warming 

water, 

Fills  us  with  cheer,  and  hope  of  better  days. 
While  kings  are  sad,   and   slaves  see  only 

death, 

Thou  by  the  wall  art  raised  to  such  a  height, 
The  woe  of  life's  unfelt,  its  joy  alone  appears. 


Criteria,  43 


CRITERIA. 

To  every  one  this  mandate  comes  at  last : 
Choose  thou  the  standard  thou   wouldst 

be  judged  by ! 
And  every  one  docs  choose,  for,  though  we 

fly   * 

All  others'  sight,  we  cannot  fly  him  past 
Who  speaks  and  earth  dissolves  or  else  stands 

fast ; 

Nor, — free  as  air  to  choose  or  low  or  high, — 
Can  any  drown  or  silence  that  breast-cry ; 
Then,  having  chosen,  each  will  often  cast 
Such  censure  on  his  soul  for  his  base  choice, 
Will  so  reproach  him  that  he  could  be  proud 
To  be  thus  judged  e'en  by  the  low  and 

vain, 
That,  should  he  dare  to  give  his  thought  a 

voice, 
Both  low  and  high  would  own  their  guilt 

avow'd, 

And  long  to  choose    (as  choose   they 
might !)  again. 


44  Heart's   Own. 


WAITING  FOR  LOVE. 

I'LL  wait  for  thee,  0  love  unseen, 

Of  whom  I've  dreamed,  for  whom  I've 

planned, 

Let  whatso  distance  intervene 
Thy  darling  soul  and  mine  between  ; 
Love's  language  we  can  understand — 
Love's  wire  extends  from  land  to  land. 

I  know  that  thou  wilt  come  to  me 

When  tides  are  fair  and  skies  are  bright ; 
And,  thinking  of  the  days  to  be, 
31  y  heart,  once  weak  with  misery, 
Grows  strong  with  rapturous  delight. 
Come, — early,  late, — 0  welcome  sight! 


After  the    Vanishing.  45 


AFTER  THE  VANISHING. 

MY  life,  that  late  did  glitter  like  a  star 

Gold-red  and  full, 
In  Love's  blue  firmament, 
Since  she  that  lit  it  so  hath  gone  so  far. 

Lies  shrunk  and  dull, 
Its  spirit  well-nigh  spent ! 

O  Heart  of  Light,  that  givest  all  their  glow, — 

Maker  of  skies 
And  all  the  stars  that  shine  ! 
In  the  new   heavens  shall  not  that    spirit 

show, — 

Lit  by  those  eyes, 
Shall  not  th'  old  joy  be  mine? 


46  Heart's   Oivn. 


ON  A  GLIMPSE. 

(FROM  MY  WINDOW  J^V  MA  Y.) 

O  SHINING  grass  and  shining  sky, 
Together  gleam  ! — for  those  who  die 
Some  other  grass  and  sky  may  shine, 
But  those  who  grieve  and  those  who  pine 
Need  look  on  ye  when  graves  are  green, 
To  know  life's  road  is  lined  with  sheen ! 

Shine  on,  to  show  incessantly 

Some  token  of  the  glow  to  be ! 

Shine,  that  the  joy  that  liveth  yet 

In  men  may  overcome  regret, 

And  that  all  hearts  may  know  how  fair 

The  world  that  lies  beyond  despair  ! 


A   Prisoner.  47 


A   PRISONER. 

IN  Poverty's  dark  cell  I  sit, 

But  God's  rich  skies  above  me  shine, 
And  beams  my  face  with  joy  divine, 

For  with  his  love  my  heart  is  lit. 

Am  I  not  king,  to  him  who  owns 
The  little  kingdoms  of  the  earth  ? 
A  loving  heart  hath  greater  worth 

Than  any  king's  dominions  ! 

In  Poverty's  dark  cell  I  sit, 

And  gaze  upon  the  heavenly  faces 
That  bid  me  to  those  luminous  spaces 

Through  which,  at  length,  my  soul  shall 
flit. 


48  Heart's   Own. 


IN  THE  HOLLOW  OF  THY  HAND. 

THE  living  or  the  dead 

Who  rest,  O  God,  in  Thee, 

Need  not  a  castle  bed 
Or  gates'  security : 

Guests  of  the  King,  indeed  ! 

All  others  are  but  slaves, 
Wear  they  the  monarch's  weed, 

Or  lie  in  guarded  graves. 


THE  GIFT  OF  YEARS. 

THE  Years  that  came  and  left  me,  one  by  one, 

Brought  me  a  gift  that  I  may  keep  forever; 

The  sense  that  Time's  a  stream  that's  never 

run, 
That  Love's  the  greatest  force  beneath  the 

sun, 

And  God  from  Man  not  God  himself  can 
sever. 


Remembered.  40 


REMEMBERED. 

I  CANNOT  hear  the  wind's  voice  sigh, 

But  through  it  all  I  hear  her  sighing ; 
I  cannot  watch  the  sunshine  lie 

On  dew'd  green    fields,  but   her  smile's 

vying 
In  my  young  heart ;  I  cannot  feel 

The  south-wind's  kiss,  but  still  all  through 

me 
Runs  that  sweet  thrill  I  used  to  feel 

Whenever  she  came  nearest  to  me  ! 
I  cannot  smell  the  sweetest  rose 

June  brings  as  gentle  Summer's  suitor, 
But  all   around   her  being  glows, 

And    perfume   sheds    than    rose-breath 
sweeter  ! 

She  is  not  dead ;  she  cannot  die ! 

God  doth  in  fairest  mansions  keep  her ; 
And   while  she  lives  in    memory, 

I  will  not  mourn,  I  cannot  weep  her! 


50  Heart's   Own. 


IF  THOU  SHUTTEST    THINE  EAR. 

IF  thou  shuttest  thine  ear 

To  the   meaningless  din 
Of  the  world,  thou   canst   hear 

A    fit  song  to  join   in 
From    Eternity  clear  ; — 

A   song   of  his  word 
That  is   sung  day   and  night, 

And  by    spirit-ear  heard 
From  the  Infinite   Height  : 

"  BE   STRONG    IN     THE    LORD, 

AND  THE  POW'R  OF   HIS   MIOIIT  ! r 


A  MOTTO. 

WHOEVER  you  are,  and  whatever  you  do, 
Here's  a  good  motto  for  you  to  pursue  : 
In  the  dark, 

In   the    light, 
In  the   peace, 

In   the   fight, 
Merry   and   true — Merry  and    true  I 


Confidence.  51 


CONFIDENCE. 

I  WILL   not  fear  what  Love  may  do. 

Fill  not  my  mind  with  thoughts  of  fear ! 

Why  should  I  fear,  when  I  can  hear : 
'•  Heart's  own  is  true  !  Heart's  own  is  true"  ? 

Some  written  word  may  mystify, 
Or  lack  in  gentleness  of  sound  ; 

But  I  can  trust  that  charity 

Which  never  gives  or  takes  a  wound. 

And  so  I  banish  thought  of  fear, 

And  wait  for  Love's  expression  new  : 

The  old  words  dear  that  greet  my  ear : 
1  •  Heart's  own  is  true!     Heart's  own   is 
true!" 


5«2  Heart's   Own. 


GROWTH. 

THE  river  that  I  knew,  a  child, 

How  wide  and  deep  its  waters  seemed  ! 
To-day  I  saw  the  stream,  and  smiled  ! 

Had  air  absorbed  it,  or  I  dreamed  ? 

The  house  that  was  my  childhood  home, 
How  high  its  roof-tree  used  to  be  ; 

But  now  how  shrunken  seems  its  dome, 
How  short  the  stairs  once  climbed  by  me. 

80  shrink  the  things  of  sense  and  time, 
While  those  of  life  eternal  grow ; 

The  things  we  dreamed  not  of,  sublime,. 
Replacing  things  we  used  to  know. 


Wordsworth.  53 


WORDSWORTH. 

WORDSWORTH,  who  drank  of  truth  and  love 
As  men  drink  water,  from  the  heavenly 

springs  ; 
Who,  while  he  walk'd  the  earth,  with  head 

above 
Sang  heaven-sweet  of  earth's  unhonored 

things  ; 

And  showed,  as  none  had  ever  shown  before, 
That  God  and  man  are  one,  though  far 

apart, — 
Wordsworth  still  points  man  upward  as  of 

yore, 

And  leads  the  way  with  pure  and  patient 
heart ! 


54  Heart's   Own. 


HEARING. 

"  Take  heed  how  ye  hear." 

IN  silence,  and  apart  from  other  men. 

When  God's  great  voice  some  waiting  soul 

had  heard, 
Were  writ  those  words  oF  might  that  so 

have  stirred 
The  hearts  they  touched  that  they  have  lived 

since   then ! 

What  heed  give  such  to  word  of  tongue  or  pen 
Spoke  in  God's  name,  whene'er  the  world 

has  erred, 

Or  he  some  trying  duty  has  conferred, 
And  many  hear  not — listening  unto  men  ! 

In  silence  still,  and  from  all  souls  apart, 
Must  thou  attend  to  hear  his  message  great, 

Or  not  to  thee  will  God  the  charge  impart 
Whereby  to  wake  the  sleeping  church  or 
state : 

Who  dimly  hears  the  message  of  his  Lord 

Can  never  be  entrusted  with  that  word. 


Shelter  55 


SHELTER. 

To  feel,  when  the  winds  are  wild,  and  full  of 

keen  drawn  swords, 
The  shield  of  a   wayside   house,  or  a  great 

high  fence,   or  a  wall, — 
Ah,  that  is  joy,  fair  friend,  who  sittest  in 

parlors   warm, 

And  knowest  but  what  men  tell  of  the  hard 
ship  of   wind  and   storm: — 
Joy  above  all  thy  feasts,  thy  greetings  of 

fondest  friends, — 
Above  (if  I   read    aright   the   writing    in 

mine   own  heart) 
Thy     dearest    positive    joy;   for,    negative 

though    it  be, 
'Tis  a  symbol  of  other  joy,  so  strong  and 

comforting, 
That  my  heart  would  be  cold  as  the  winds. 

and  this  shelter  a  blank  to  me, 
If  God's  great  love  should  depart! 


56  Heart's   Own. 


A  THOUGHT  AFTER  A  PETITION. 

WHAT  though  we  hear  no  voice 
In    answer   to    our   prayer  ? 
Something   subdues    despair, 
Something   directs  our   choice, 
And  we    are  led   as  we  had  sought, 
"  In  word,  in   action,   and   in    thought." 

O    soul   that   waitest  still 
To  hear   the  Voice   Divine : 
As    on    the   printed    line 
Thou   look'st   to  find   God's   will, 
Look  at  thy  life,  and    there  find   wrought 
The  blessing  that   thy    lips  have  sought. 


PRAISE. 

Who  praises  theeas  true  man,  praises  Truth : 
Pass  that  word  on  to  her.  ambitious  youth  I 


Provision.  57 


PROVISION. 

MY  thought  goes  o'er  and  o'er 
To   those  who  think   no  more — 
(rone  strangely  out   of  sight, 
And   hushed  in    death's  still  night. 

Loves    still    remain,  but   they 
Who've  left  me  on  the  way 
Seem   dearer  since   they've  gone 
Than  these  who  still   live  on. 

I  know   them  better  now; 
Lives    in   the  darkness  show 
Their   whiteness   best;    and  near, 
One   cannot   see  them  clear. 

Ah,  if  in   that  weird  light 
The  vanished  had  their  sight, 
How  would   our   lives  appear 
Who  keep   our   dwelling  here  ? 

I   cannot  quite  assent 
To  silent  banishment — 


58  Heart's  Oicn. 

To  senseless,  soulless  rest; 
Yet   I   would  count   that  best, 

Knew  I  that   I  might   choose 
My   state ; — I   would  refuse 
A  state    on  earth    wherein 
I  might  behold    the   sin 

That  smirches  my   beloved, 
While   to  their  sight  I   proved 
But  pure   and  true.     God's  love 
Makes   no  such  state  above ! 

0  friends  long  lost  and  still  1 

1  cannot   know  your  will 
As   once  I  knew ;   but  I 
Can   leave  you  trustfully 

In  his  great  care  who  gave 
The  ground  to   hold  your  grave- 
What    I  could  do  for   you 
Were  poor   when   God  doth   do. 

And   if  ye  still  have  sense 
Of  his  vast   providence, 


The   Wakened  Heart.  5 

Or    if  ye  senseless  lie, 
Ye're  one   with  us,   and   I 

Nor  ye  shall  be  alone, 
Since   God  and  we  are  one. 
So,  calm  is  in  my  heart, 
And  I   would  its  peace  impart, 

When  my  thought  goes  o'er  and  o'er 
To  those  who  think  no  more — 
Gone  strangely  out  of  sight, 
And  hushed  in  death's  still  night. 


THE   WAKENED   HEART. 

IN  youth  a  matchless  melody, 

That  now  I  prize  so  dear, 
Its  answering  chord  found  not  in  me, 

Its  notes  I  could  not  hear. 

But  now  I  feel  a  joy  complete 

The  loving  only  know, 
For  day  and  night  heaven's  music  sweet 

Beats  on  me  here  below. 


60  Heart's   Oven. 


TWO   GROWTHS. 

WHO   lives  a  life   of  love  outvies 
The  soul  that  measures  life  by  creed, 

As  roses  in  a  garden  rise 
Above  the   thriftless  weed  ; 

For  loving  souls,  set  in  such  ground 
They  grow,  and  fruit  and  fragrance  yield, 

In  more  than  King's  array  are  crowned, 
Like  lillies  of  the  field. 


THE  KING'S  DAUGHTER. 

WHEN  I  was  born,  to  me  was  given 
Title  to  all  in  earth  and  heaven ; 

My  wealth's  unspent; 
Though  Fortune's  wheel  go  up  or  down, 
It  cannot  rob  me  of  my  crown  : 

I  am  content! 


Grant.  61 


GRANT. 

HE  was    not  earth's    commander — as    we 

know. 

Some  victories  of  great  renown  he  gained; 
O'er  mighty  hosts   he    triumphed,  and 

maintained, 

Where  others  ran,  the  flag  against  the  foe ; 
"What,  more  than  other  mortals,  could  he 

show 

When  Nature  of  her  broken  law   com 
plained  ? 
What   slave   so   abject,    soul   and   body 

chained, 
When  Evil  Habit  bade  him  come  and  go  ? 

But  when  the  King  of  Evil,  Lord  of  Death, 
Began  the  siege  against  his  purged  soul, 
He  found  the  great  Commander  in  control, 

And,with  his  utmost,could  but  take  his  breath ! 

So  he  who  oft  on  earth  was  slain  in  strife 

Hath  won   the  grander  fight  'twixt  Death 
and  Life. 


(1-2  Heart's   Own. 

A  WORD  TO  O.  W.  H. 

(On  His  Election  as  First  Immortal.) 
[FROM  A  DELEGATION  OF  HIS  CONSTITUENTS.] 

DEAR  DR.  HOLMES:  Though  we  are  late, 

We  hope  you'll  let  us  through  your  portal, 
For  we  would  fain   congratulate 
You  on  your  quite  exclusive   fate 
Of  standing   as  the  First    Immortal ! 

We  hope  ('tis  all  we've  come  to  say, 

For  though  you've  time  enough  to  hear  u?T 
As  mortals  long  we  cannot  stay) — 
With  stories  like '-The  One-Hoss  Shay  " 
We  hope  you'll  never  cease  to  cheer  us ; 

And  rhymes  like  those  at  college  dinners, 
With  tales  of  comet-ary  visions, 

And  yarns,  of  which  you're  chief  of  spinners; 

(For  had  we  thought — we're  selfish  winners— 
You'd  drop  your  pen  for  "higher"  missions, 


L fling   Waters.  63 

AVe'd  let  you  rattle  on  with  those 

Who  still,  like  us,  are  common  mortals). 
So  still  with  witty  verse  and  prose 
Make  light  of  mortals'  fancied  woes, 
Thou  greatest  of  the  Great  Immortals! 


LIVING  WATERS. 

WHEN  I  would  drink  an  everlasting  draught. 
I  lock  my  doors  to  all  the  world's  mixed 

drinks, 
Cease  aught  to  care  what  any  neighbor 

thinks, 
And,  all-alone  as  Adam  when  he  quaffed 

Eden's  pure  water,  I  drink  in  the  thought 
Of  that  great  love  which  hath   all   beings 

wrought 

With  such  desire  for  its  own  perfectness, 
The  more  they  drink,  they  yet  desire  no  less. 


64  Heart's   Own. 


INFLUENCE. 

As  Holy  Spirit  walks  with  each, 

And,  silent  as  ourselves  in  thought, 
Moves  us  to  do  the  things  we  ought 
With  tenfold   force   of  angel's  speech, 
While   rarely   we   the  Power  discern ; 
So  with  us  walk  revered  and  loved, 
And,   though  nor  tongue  nor  hand  is 

moved, 

Our  minds  they  guide,  our  feet  they  turn, 
And  force  that  else  we  might  have  dared 
Impels  to  acts-  we  dreamed  not  of. 
Who  of  his  weakness  needeth  proof 
May  find  it  here.     Who  feels  prepared 
To  stand  alone  against  the  world's  loud  scorn, 
Should  see  that  he  from  all  mankind  has  torn. 


Mary.  65 


MARY. 

ALL  the  maids  have  died  but  one, — 

She   will    live  forever; 
In    the  Land   of  Love,   the   sun 

Setteth,    fadeth  never  ! 

Maidens   pure  and   lovers  true 
Long   the  world   has   boasted, 

But   the  maid   that  first  we   knew, 
Lover   first   we   trusted — 

Still  the  world  holds  none  so  dear; 

Nor  to  us  shall   any 
(Though   maids   be  for  many  a   year, 

And   lads   be  for  many), 

Dwell  apart,  star-souled  and  rare, 

While   the  fickle  vary, 
Like   the   maid   that  used   to   care 

For  us   with   name  of  Mary. 


Heart's   Own. 


HOPE. 

THY  heart,  0  God  !   is  mine, 
Truest   of  all   that  love  ; — 

But   mine's  not   wholly   Thine, 
Or  it  would   truer  prove. 

But   since  thy   heart  is   mine, 
And  Thou  dost   love  for  aye, 

Mine  shall  be  wholly  thine 
When   earth's   loves  fall   away. 


ON  SEEING  A  BOY  PLAYING 
CLAPPERS. 

O  GLEE!   in   a  little   boy's   face, 

In  his  hands,  in  his  feet,  in  his  heart  ! 

Should  life  set  his  soul  such  a  race, 
That  from  hands  and  from  feet  thou  de 
part 

As  they  yield  to  Life  s  spiritless  art, — 
O   spirit,    still   stay  in    his  heart ! 


Christmas  Morning.  67 

CHRISTMAS   MORNING. 

WHAT  other  day  from  year  to  year 
So  fills  the  souls  of  men  with  cheer; 
What  memories  are  half  so  sweet 
As  those  that  in  devotion  meet, 
On  Christmas  morning? 

The  dawn  upon  the  world's  long  night 
Of  him  God  sent  to  give  it  light 
Hath  spring  of  joy  and  blessedness 
That  faileth  not  nor  groweth  less, 
On  Christmas  morning. 

I  cannot  hear  the  Christmas  chimes, 
Or   list  to  Christmas  singers'  rhymes, 
But   tenderer  my  spirit  grows, 
And  gladness  all  my  speech  o'erflows, 
On  Christmas  morning.      • 

I  cannot  greet  or  young  or  old 
But   merry   wishes   manifold 
Return  to  me;   for   like  my  own, 
All  hearts   appear   wide-open  thrown 
On  Christmas  morning. 


68  Heart's   Oicn. 

Our  Christmas  days  on  earth  may  be- 
How   few  God  knoweth — only  He; 
Yet  may  our  lives  so  Christlike  grow 
Each  day  our  hearts  shall  feel  the  glow 
Of  Christmas  morning. 

With  Christmas  cheer  for  all  the  year, — 
A  heart  set  free  from  care  and  fear, — 
Our  souls  may  ripe  for  Advent  grow, 
And  thus  each  year  more  gladness  know 
On  Christmas  morning. 


MAN'S  PART. 

To  eat  and  drink  and  build  is  all  that  the 

heavens  decree : 
For  this  were  the  worlds  create,  for  this 

grows  the  land,  flows  the  sea  ; 
And  who  eats  and  drinks  and  builds,  like 

to  God  himself  is  he, — 
And  his  is  a  part  of  the  land,  and  his  is  a 

part  of  the  sea_ 


The  Discovery.  69 


THE  DISCOVERY. 

I  KNOW,  at  last,  why  earth    such   beauty 

wears, 
Why  hearts  are  tender,  and  hands  reach  to 

lift 

The  burdens  that  each  says  he,  only,  bears, 
When  burden  seems  our  solitary  gift; 

Why  lives  go  on  that  fear  had  said  would  end; 

Why  loves  ford  safely  streams  of  sacrifice 

Wherein  who  fell   were   lost ;    why   bright 

hues  blend 

When  grief-storms  pass  ;  why  even  homes 
of  vice 

Arc  lit  with  sunbeams ;   and — oh,  stranger 

yet! 
Why  all  this  haps  to  thankless,   cursing 

souls  : 

God,  who  made  all — e'en  these  who  him  for 
get— 

God's   in    the  world,    and   still  by  love 
controls ! 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 

Los  Angeles 
This  book  is  DUE  on  the  last  date  stamped  below. 


Form  L9 — 15m-10,'48  (B1039 ) 444 


.   ,   ..-,- 

ORNIA 
ANfiKLKfl 


UC  SOUTHERN  REGIONAL  LIBRARY 


A  001  377  938  4 


PS 

1289 

C348h 


